My name is Vanessa Sledge. I am a young mother who is asking for help getting back on her feet. To make a long story short. A few years ago, in 2019, I found myself in an unfortunate situation. I lost my job and house all in the same breath. (I work in property management). After the loss of my housing and employment, we began sleeping in hotels and family members homes. It finally came to the point where I had to break down and ask my children's fathers for help. We came up with an agreement where they would keep the kids for one year while I got back on my feet. We even drew up a contract to keep things out of court, and the exchange of custody was done. Three months into our arrangement, one of the parties decided they wanted to get the legal system involved. We were unable to come to a mature mutual agreement for the new custody arrangement. We spent two-plus years in a custody battle, racking up over $15,000.00 in legal fees.

I was finally on rebound with things. I was finally able to get a two-bedroom apartment, and I was able to get a reliable car. I was even able to get a decent-paying job and maintain employment (during the pandemic). I was doing well enough to take care of our basic needs, but not enough to get ahead or obtain a lawyer. So, I had to represent myself in court. In February of 2022 there was a final court hearing, and the order was My oldest child (16) would stay with his dad. His choice. My middle child (13) would stay with her dad, and I would have to pay child support. (No problem) and my youngest child (10) would live me with, and his dad would pay me child support. I was also ordered to pay the Guardian at litem who represented the children in the custody hearing $3,900.00 within 90 days of the court hearing and make a monthly payment of $250.00 to his lawyer to cover her bill of $11,343.00, along with making $300 child support payments. Adding a total of $1,861.00 to my monthly expenses.

With barely meeting our basic needs, life went downhill quickly, and I fell behind on bills. In June 2022, I was taken back to court, where I was found in contempt of court for not being able to make my newly added financial obligations. I was ordered to do 20 days in jail or I could get out by paying $1,000.00. After sitting in jail and taking the last of my savings to pay my bond. I was released from jail only to get back to my apartment where i found the locks changed for being behind on rent while I was trying to cover the astronomical fees from child support and lawyer fees. I was still able to keep my job (Thank God). But I was homeless again. I found myself living in a hotel again and staying in shelters. During this time also trying to get housing, my son was removed from my care through DSS (Department of social services) for housing instability. It took me a little time but, I was finally able to bounce back for the third time in a year; I was able to pay my child support in full and put money towards my legal fees and obtain stable housing and start the reunification process for me and my family. Life was starting to look up again for us.

In October 2022, I was informed that the GAL she has not received the mailed payments and that she would be filing a complaint with the court holding me in contempt of court again for being late on one of my payments. I advised her that the payment was in the mail. Still, she wanted the payment in full of $3,400 and bench warrant was put out for my arrest for contempt of court once again. Due to the fact of the ongoing incarceration and lack of employment, getting back on my feet has been almost impossible.

In December 2022, I was arrested and placed back in jail for 45 days. During that time I lost my job and housing again. Upon my released from jail, I began the process to yet again establish employment, housing, etc. Once I was released, I joined a non-profit organization in Charleston that helps parents with child support and custody challenges. I have been actively involved in the program to address the barriers to keeping up with child support. I was able to secure a job, increase my parenting skills, and provide negative drug screens as outlined in the parent agency treatment plan from DSS. I was just approved for an apartment this past Monday. Before I could celebrate these accomplishments, I received an email Friday, 5/19/23, from the Guardian at Litem stating that I was found in contempt of court for not appearing at a court hearing earlier this month. I haven't recieved the court hearing paperwork due to the transiency of housing. I was required to pay the new amount from the recent filing fees of $4300.00 by the next day at midnight, or a bench warrant would be put in place for my arrest, this time resulting in 90 days in jail. My case worker from the non-profit was able to talk with the GAL to see if payment arrangements can be resume, but she is unwilling to do so. She stated that she would give me an extension until Wednesday, May 24, to come up with the full amount, thus the need for your support. Im so close to reaching my goal of reunifying with my children. I have court Thursday, May 25, and if all go as planned, I will be able to start having visits with my children. Since I have housing and employment established, it's not much that should get in the way of me getting them back. I have not been an abusive mother. I just hit a rough patch in life and I'm now stuck in the child support system's spiral.